Article and method for marking



March 1, 1932. c, g, FlNN 1,847,390

ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR MARKING Filed May 28, 1929 L.H.WHI'i'E :IAK. EAL. J

IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 1, 1932 CHARLES C. FINN, or SEATTLE, wAsHINGToN ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR MARKING Application filedMay 28, 1929. Serial No. 866,774.

My invention relates to the marking of articles particularly those having a relatively porous or fibrous surface, such as wood or paper.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple and easily provided article for use in the addressing of shipments of goods.

Another object of my invention is to provide a superior method of marking an article with desired information. 7

A further object of my invention is to facilitate the placing of information upon various articles. The invention possesses other advantageous features, some of which with the foregoing Will be set forth at length in the following where I shall outline in full the form of the article and the manner of marking of my invention, which I have selected for illustration in the present specification and drawings. In the specification I have de scribed a preferred form of the article and manner of marking embodying my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit 'myself to such form since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a transparent sheet marked for use subsequently in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the sheet shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of another sheet, the delineations being placed upon both sides of this sheet.

While the article and method of my invention may be utilized in numerous environments I shall preferably describe them in their relationship to the marking of articles, such as wooden boxes, for shipment.

Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to mark boxes, and similar objects, which are being prepared for shipment by either marking the box with a brush or by stencilling. Both these methods are objectionable. The marker must have considerable skill and must accurately transcribe the information onto the box. In instances when trans-shipments are made and readdressing is required, or "when articles are consigned under contract figures will be destroyed.

as to the United States Government, a great deal of writing is occasioned. This hampers the handling of the boxes and oftentimes serious errors creep in from inaccuracies in correctly transcribing the records and information onto the box. The use-of stencils is also objectionable in that with each different address or different lot a new stencil is required, the preparation and use of which likewise necessitates another considerable delay. Furthermore, the stencils must be carefully handledor the various portions of the out :In marking boxes in accordance with my 7 invention I preferably delineate with acopy ing ink upon a suitable substance such as paper the desired information to provide a tag whichcan be affixed to the box. Such inks are well known inthe art and need not be further described here. I prefer to delineate the information upon the paper in such a manner that to read the information the delineations must be read by looking through thepaper or by viewing them in a mirror. This method of provision I have termed as being one" of reverse order, for the delineations, when viewed from the side of the paper to which they are directly applied, are backwards. Thus, the delineations indicated generally at 6 in Figures 1 an 2 are on the underside of the sheet 7. I

In delineating the information upon the paper I have employed an ordinary typewriter with asheet of copying ink carbon paper such as hectograph carbon positioned with its transfer surface directly against the normally reverse side-of the paper. The paper, with the transferside of the carbonnext to-it, is positioned in the typewriter. Then by operating the typewriter. in the usual manner; the various characters are printed on both the obverse and the reverse side of the paper as is shown in Figure 3. The obverse delineations 8 are in the ordinary ink while those on the reverse side indicated'at 9'are in the copying ink and, as has been previously pointed out, are backwards. The typewriter can also be operated in the same manner as when stencils are cut. The delineations will then be on only the reverse side of the paper.

I have also employed addressing machines for printing the information upon the paper. The Elliott machine, which as is well known in the art, uses a small typewriter cut stencil, is expediently utilized by placing the stencil in the machine so that the characters are printed, with a copying ink, backwards upon the paper. In this instance the information is ordinarily set forth on only one side of the paper. Other types of addressing machines wherein relatively large characters are available may be advantageously employed.

To facilitate the reading of the tags prepared with the delineations on only the reverse side and to render it unnecessary to touch the surface of the paper upon which the copying-ink characters are set forth, I

v prefer to utilize a translucent or transparent paper so that the delineations are readily observed thru the paper. This aids in the handling of the tags for it is unnecessary to touch the reverse side to determine what information is set forth uponthe tag, and, since the hands of various people who handle the tags may be moist or damp, this is a material advantage. Since the tags can be readily provided in a regular manner as in an ofiice under skilled supervision there is far more likelihood of their being correct than with the previous methods used for marking. I

After the paper has been marked with the desired information it is attached to the surface of the box by suitable means. I have found it expedient in some instances to utilize sodium silicate, commonly known as water glass, which serves as a cheap industrial adhesive. Certain types of glues are also suitable for use, depending upon the; particular character of the copying ink and the paper utilized. It is of course expedient that the adhesive employed be of such acharacter that it moistens and assists the copy ink in its penetration into the surface to which the tag is afiixed.

In practice the surface upon which the tag is to be positioned is first covered with adhesive and the transparent paper placed with the reverse side 9 having the copying ink upon it in contact with the adhesive. The copying ink readily penetrates into the relatively porous surface of-the box, and, after a short period of half an hour, has carried into the wood to such an extent that the information can be effected only with greatdilficulty. Furthermore, the ink penetrates thru the paper upon the application of the adhesive, thus rendering the delineations very legible and distinct from the obverse side of the tag. This is particularly true when a relatively translucent paper is utilized. Tosecure delineations which are more readily apparent, the obverse side of the paper is covered with the adhesive. This draws the ink thru and makes the characters my hand.

CHARLES C. FINN. 

